A major new report from the World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) and Trip.com Group, together with Deloitte, reveals increased appetite for sustainable tourism among consumers, with 69% of travelers actively seeking sustainable travel options 1 .
In this monitoring report, the WTTC once again joined forces with the world's leading provider of travel services, Trip.com Group and its major consumer brands Trip.com, Ctrip and Skyscanner, with additional data from Deloitte, to analyze trends. that shaped Travel & Turismo last year and will continue to do so throughout 2023.
The report, "A World in Motion: Changing Consumer Travel Trends in 2022 and Beyond," shows that sustainability is a key element of the travel agenda, with travelers keen to reduce their carbon footprint and support the sustainable tourism.
According to a survey included in the report, three-quarters of travelers are considering traveling more sustainably in the future, and nearly 60% have chosen more sustainable travel options in the past two years.
Another survey also found that around three-quarters of high-end travelers are willing to pay more to make their trips more sustainable.
Last year, after more than two years of travel disruptions, travelers made it clear that their wanderlust is very much alive, with overnight international arrivals up 109% compared to 2021.
According to the report, last year consumers were willing to stretch their budget for their vacation plans, with 86% of travelers planning to spend the same amount or more on international travel than in 20193, with US tourists leading the list as big spenders.
But 2023 is looking even better in terms of traveler spending. Despite concerns about inflation and the cost-of-living crisis around the world, nearly a third (31%) of travelers said they intend to spend more on international travel this year than in 2022.
In addition, according to Deloitte's 'Global State of the Consumer Tracker', last year more than half (53%) of global consumers surveyed over the summer said they plan to stay in a hotel for the next three months.
Julia Simpson, President and CEO of WTTC, said: “Demand for travel is now stronger than ever and our report shows that this year we will see a significant rebound. 2023 is set to be a very strong year for Travel & Tourism.
"Sustainability is top of the traveler agenda, and consumers highlight the value they place on protecting nature and traveling responsibly."
Jane Sun, CEO of Trip.com Group, said: “Travel and tourism is a powerful force driving the global economy, creating jobs, stimulating economic growth and lifting communities out of poverty.
“The Asia-Pacific region, with its rapidly growing middle class and dynamic economies, is well positioned to capitalize on the growth of the industry and take its place as a leader in the global tourism economy.
“I am optimistic about the positive momentum for the global resumption and travel growth in 2023, driven mainly by mainland Chinese consumers, which will help accelerate recovery and development around the world.”
Scott Rosenberger, Transportation, Hospitality and Global Services Sector Leader, Deloitte Global: “Travel is bouncing back from the pandemic while innovating and meeting demands for more modern alternative types of travel, sustainable travel, luxury travel and much more.
“Even rising inflation-driven financial concerns aren't slowing the pace; Incredibly, travel is being prioritized and flexible/remote work arrangements are creating new opportunities.
We are actively engaging with our customers as they embrace these new trends and create memorable consumer experiences.”
Other findings revealed in the report include:
• Sales of sun and sea holiday packages in 2022 are estimated to increase by 75% compared to the previous year
• Last year, during the summer, international arrivals to European destinations of sun and sand were only 15% below 2019 levels
• According to the recent WTTC Cities Economic Impact Research, in 2022 visits to major cities are expected to see a year-on-year increase of 58%, less than 14 % below 2019 levels
• Luxury vacations will be particularly popular, with sales of Luxury hotels expected to reach $92 billion by 2025 (compared to $76 billion in 2019)
• In a survey, almost 60% of travelers said they were already paying to offset their carbon emissions or were considering it if the price was right